Thematic Bible: Illustrated


Thematic Bible










But a certain Samaritan, on a journey, came where he was, and seeing him had compassion on him; Verse ConceptsOpportunities, In LifeOutsidersTravelPeople Showing Mercy


And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned to Heaven, and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Verse ConceptsGuilt, Human Aspects OfRepentance, Examples OfConviction Of SinAfflicted Saints, Examples OfWe Have SinnedBeing A Good Father

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God, be propitious to me a sinner. Verse ConceptsContritionReconciliation, Of The World To GodRepentance, Examples OfRepentance, Nature OfConviction Of SinBeating OneselfBe Merciful!Far From Heredistancebreastspitytaxes



And the poor man died, and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham from afar, and Lazarus in his bosom.

and in hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham from afar, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in pain in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you received your good things in your life, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in pain. read more.
And besides all this, there is a great chasm fixed between us and you, so that those wishing to pass from hence to you cannot, neither can they pass from thence to us.





On this account, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle with his servants. And beginning to settle, a debtor of ten thousand talents [$10,000,000] was brought to him. And he having nothing to pay, the lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. read more.
Then the servant fell down and worshipped him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay all. And the lord of that servant having compassion on him released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants who owed him one hundred denarii [$14], and seizing him, he choked him, saying, Pay what you owe me. Then his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay you. But he would not; but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt. Then his fellow-servants seeing what was done, were greatly displeased, and went and related to their lord all things that were done. Then his lord called him, and said to him, Evil servant; I forgave you all that debt because you besought me [to do it]. Ought you not also to pity your fellow-servant, as I pitied you? And his lord was displeased, and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all the debt. So also will my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not each one his brother from your hearts.

to one he gave five talents [$5,000], to another two [$2,000], and to another one [$1,000]; to each according to his ability, and immediately went abroad. And he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five; in like manner, also, he that received the two gained two others; read more.
but he that received the one went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord's money. And after a long time the lord of those servants came, and had a settlement with them. And he that received the five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you committed to me five talents; behold, I have gained five other talents. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few [talents], I will place you over many: enter into the joy of your lord. And he that received the two talents also came to him and said, Lord, you committed to me two talents; behold, I have gained two others. His Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few [talents], I will place you over many: enter into the joy of your lord. And he that received the one talent also came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sowed, and gathering where you have not scattered, and being afraid I went away and hid your talent in the earth; behold, you have what is yours. And his Lord answered and said to him, Evil and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather whence I have not scattered? And you ought then to have given my money to the brokers, and at my coming, I should have received my own with interest. Take his talent, therefore, from him, and give it to him that has ten talents; for to every one that has shall be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from him that has not, even what he has shall be taken away; and cast the unprofitable servant into the darkness outside; there shall be weeping and gnashing of the teeth.


But Abraham said, Son, remember that you received your good things in your life, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in pain. Verse ConceptsLimitednessRiches, Ungodly Use OfDeath Of The Saints, Results InPainful MemoriesReversalsGiving Good ThingsBad SituationsGod Has ComfortedOvercoming Adversity

And he told them a parable, saying, The farm of a certain rich man produced abundantly; and he reasoned in himself, saying, What shall I do, for I have no place where I shall bring together my fruits? And he said, I will do this; I will take down my storehouses and build greater; and there will I bring together all my produce and my goods; read more.
and I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years rest, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. But God said to him, Foolish man, this night they shall require your soul from you; and who then will have the goods which you have provided?




He said, therefore, A certain nobleman went into a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and to return. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten minas [$163.30], and said to them, Use them in business till I come. And his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We wish not this man to reign over us.


Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which appear fair without, but within are full of the bones of the dead and of all impurity. So also you on the outside appear just to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.


but he that received the one went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord's money. Verse ConceptsTalentsExcavationHidden ThingsOne Material ThingHoles In The GroundGifts And TalentsMoney Blessingsinvestinghiding

And his Lord answered and said to him, Evil and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather whence I have not scattered? Verse ConceptsTalentsSlothfulnessNot SowingNot Reaping What You SowKnowing God's Character





and bring the fatted calf and kill it; let us eat, and rejoice; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to rejoice.

I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than that; for every one that exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Verse ConceptsHumilityPromotionIndividuals going homeHumbling Oneself


and if it bears fruit, well; but if not, at a future time you shall cut it down. Verse ConceptsDivine DelaysFelling TreesBearing FruitOlive Treescutting

And he spoke this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Verse ConceptsMetaphorical VineyardsSeeking For Concrete Things

(Added verse not retained in Sawyer) What think you? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them is lost, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain, and go and seek for the lost one? And if he finds it, I tell you truly that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which were not lost.

And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten minas [$163.30], and said to them, Use them in business till I come. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of TalentsTradeAppropriationTen PeopleLarge DenominationsSpecific Sums Of MoneyEternal PerspectiveBusinessFinancesTalentsGifts And Talentsinvesting

For, as a man going abroad called his servants, and delivered to them his estates; Verse ConceptsTalentsRich, TheLikeningEntrustingLikening ThingsPropertyGifts And Talentsmathlent

and when they had received it, they complained of the householder, Verse ConceptsGrumbling At People

And he answered and said to his father, Behold, l have served you so many years, and have never disobeyed your command; and you have never given me a kid, that I might rejoice with my friends; but when this your son came who has consumed his living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf.

And having nothing to pay, he gave [the debt] to both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Verse ConceptsPeople Forgiving OthersUnable To Do Other ThingsDebtLove And Forgiveness

And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet far off, his father saw him, and had compassion on him, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned to Heaven, and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put on him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; read more.
and bring the fatted calf and kill it; let us eat, and rejoice; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to rejoice.


Hear another parable: There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge around it, and dug a wine vat in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went abroad. And when the time of the fruits approached he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive his fruits. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. read more.
Again he sent other servants more than the first; and they treated them in the same manner. And afterwards he sent them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him and take his inheritance. And they took him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

And some fell on a rocky place, where it had not much earth, and it came up immediately, because it had no depth of earth; Verse ConceptsShallownessSprouting PlantsSuddenlySproutingThings Going Up

and have no root in themselves, but are temporary [disciples]. Then, when affliction or persecution occurs on account of the word, they are immediately offended. Verse ConceptsAfflictions, In Christian LivingShallownessFor The Sake Of ThingsPersecutionpressure


The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field, which a man found, and concealed, and went away with joy, and sold all that he had and bought that field. Again; the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, finding one very costly, went and sold all that he had and bought it.




And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God, be propitious to me a sinner. Verse ConceptsContritionReconciliation, Of The World To GodRepentance, Examples OfRepentance, Nature OfConviction Of SinBeating OneselfBe Merciful!Far From Heredistancebreastspitytaxes

I will arise and go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned to Heaven, and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet far off, his father saw him, and had compassion on him, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. read more.
And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned to Heaven, and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

only they heard that he who persecuted us formerly, now preached the faith which he formerly destroyed; Verse ConceptsFaith, As A Body Of Beliefsenemies, of Jesus ChristGospel, Transmission OfPersecution, Forms Of

But he answered and said, I will not; but afterwards he repented, and went. Verse ConceptsPeople Changing Their MindsPeople UnwillingObeying People

And coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father abound in bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned to Heaven, and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.


Foolish man, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies; and what you sow, you sow not the body which shall be, but the naked grain, it may be of wheat, or some of the other grains;


And he returned, having received the kingdom, and ordered those servants to be called to him to whom he had given the money, that he might know what each one had done. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of TalentsOthers Summoninginvesting

but at midnight there was a cry, Behold the bridegroom; go out to meet him. Verse ConceptsHourMidnightMeeting God


He said, therefore, A certain nobleman went into a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and to return. Verse ConceptsHeirsInheritance, SpiritualNoblesRich, TheIndividuals going homeFar From HereGifts And Talents

Two men went up to the temple to pray; one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee, standing by himself, offered this prayer; God, I thank thee that I am not as other men, rapacious, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican; I fast twice a week; I tithe all I acquire.








When a strong man armed keeps his court, his goods are in peace; but when a stronger man than he comes upon him, and overcomes him, he takes away all his arms in which he trusted, and distributes his spoils.



According to the grace of God given me as a wise architect I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one see how he builds on it. For no one can lay another foundation besides that laid, which is Christ Jesus.



Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it, purifying it with the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any thing of the kind, but that it should be holy and blameless. read more.
Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also the church; for we are members of his body. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak of Christ and the church.









Stand with your loins girded, and your candles lighted, and be like men waiting for the coming of their lord, when he shall return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.